Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Kingston Fossil Plant

Knoxville

Coal Combustion Residue:

Status of EPA’s Efforts to Regulate

Disposal

Lauren Parry BoyerCited from GAO, Frank Rusco

Coal Combustion Residue

Data | Storing CCRs | Federal Role | Resolutions

Coal Combustion Residue

Data | Storing CCRs | Federal Role | Resolutions

Coal Combustion Residue

Data | Storing CCRs | Federal Role | Resolutions

Environmental Protection Agency

•Sent request letters to 210 facilities and 61 corporate offices

•Purpose - To determine the number of CCR coal storage areas and other information

•Ultimate Goal – To assess the structural stability

•Currently, 584 coal storage areas in 35 States

Coal Combustion Residue

Data | Storing CCRs | Federal Role | Resolutions

Problems

1.Structural defects (such as TVA Kingston Facility)

1.Health and environmental risks• 26 facilities reported spills or unpermitted releases

within 10 years• 24 cited were proven to endanger human health and

environment between 1999-2005• 39 cited were potential damage cases

1.Risks from wastewater containing CCR• Toxins from CCR wastewater seep into groundwater

from unlined surface impoundments• EPA reports that toxins in CCR wastewater will

continue to increase

Coal Combustion Residue

Data | Storing CCRs | Federal Role | Resolutions

EPA does not Directly Regulate CCR Disposal

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)

Options Industry and State

Agencies

Environmental Groups

Regulations under Subtitle C

Regulations under Subtitle D

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Coal Combustion Residue

Data | Storing CCRs | Federal Role | Resolutions

Beneficial Uses for CCR Wastes

•Subtitle D reduced potential risks

•Used in cement, concrete, wallboard products, roadbeds and structural fill

Coal Combustion Residue

Data | Storing CCRs | Federal Role | Resolutions

Current Issues to be Resolved

•Reconsidering Subtitle D

•Hybrid Approach – Hazardous waste may become solid waste upon regulations

•Studies suggest CCRs present risks to human health and the environment

•New units are lined and provided with groundwater monitors but these only represent a small portion of existing plants

•Federal vs. State control debate

Questions?